The GOP-Controlled House Has Voted 223 Times Against Clean Energy & For Oil

There's a reason that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has picked up the nickname 'the most anti-environment House in the history of the House.' And here, via Phil Bump, who notes that there have been only 450 days on which votes could possibly be cast, is why:

The House voted 223 times in support of a dirty-energy economy.

The figure comes from a database compiled by Reps. Henry Waxman (Calif.) and Ed Markey (Mass.), Democratic members of the House Natural Resources Committee.

42 votes against clean energy and energy efficiency54 votes for subsidies or other giveaways to the oil and gas industry, including votes to rush approval of Keystone XL127 votes to cut or block health, safety, or environmental protections for the fossil fuel sector

That's some serious dedication to shutting down clean energy incentives and pollution protections, and some serious dedication to granting financial support to the fossil fuel industry. It's a product of the anti-regulatory zeal of the Tea Party caucus that's occupied Congress for the last two years, and the opportunism of the oil and gas interests that have bankrolled them.

It's also on the wane — Tea Party influence is fading, and the anti-environment tack has proved reliably unpopular within the electorate. In other words, it will likely be a while yet before another House can match the anti-green assault produced by this one.